Bond set at $5 million for owner charged in firefighter deaths

The man accused of starting a blaze that killed two members of the Toledo Fire Department was in court this morning, where his total bond was set $5 million.

Ray Abou-Arab, 61, of Oregon, who owns the building at 528 Magnolia St., was arrested Jan. 31 on two charges each of aggravated arson and aggravated murder stemming from a Jan. 26 fire that killed firefighters Pvt. Stephen Machcinski, 42, and Pvt. James Dickman, 31.

Judge Denise Ann Dartt set Abou-Arab’s bail at $500,000 for each arson charge and $2 million for each aggravated murder charge, totaling $5 million.

Abou-Arab, who did not enter a plea, appeared wearing an anti-suicide smock and did not speak during the hearing.

An attorney for Abou-Arab asked Judge Dartt that Toledo Police secure the Magnolia Street building to preserve the crime scene until a hearing Feb. 5. Judge Dartt set the hearing to discuss a request by Abou-Arab’s lawyer to have the building secured to allow defense experts to perform chemical tests.

Court documents state that an investigation determined Abou-Arab “used and ignited an ignitable liquid inside the garage” that caused the fire.

Dozens of firefighters attended the hearing together, and filled the courtroom to capacity. Some held up programs from the Last Alarm memorial service, which had the faces of the two fallen firefighters on them.

Building owner charged with arson, murder in deaths of firefighters

The owner of the North Toledo building where two Toledo firefighters were killed while responding to a Jan. 26 fire has been charged with two counts of aggravated arson and two counts of aggravated murder.

Ray Abou-Arab, 61, of Oregon, who owns the building at 528 Magnolia St., was arrested at 3:18 p.m. Jan. 31 and charged in Toledo Municipal Court.